ESPN and Pro Football Talk have Ponder as the most improved QB this season and why.Story available at Pro football Talk,within the article they say even anti-Ponder people would have to agree.grade f for jimmy.Anyway,us Viking fans can enjoy a nice story,jimmy is free to leave.

ESPN and Pro Football Talk have Ponder as the most improved QB this season and why.Story available at Pro football Talk,within the article they say even anti-Ponder people would have to agree.grade f for jimmy.Anyway,us Viking fans can enjoy a nice story,jimmy is free to leave.

<quoted text>What kind of numbers would be satisfactory for Ponder 2012?TD's INT's. Points per game wins.

I would like to see 28 to 30 TDs & over 3000 yards Lets not for get I was pushing for the Vikings to draft RG3 before the redskins made the trade with the Rams I didnt think RG3 could start right off but as it stands right now Ponders doesn have to worry about losing his Job. Maybe the owner & staff wanted Ponder to feel sure there wasnt any competition., lets face it Webb isnt Or will Webb ever be a starter.. anyway thats why I think the Vikings didnt bring in anyone or draft anyone There making Ponder feel like his job is secure. From what I seen this year Ponder's arm is stronger then last years. He even looks biger this year. My fingers are crossed. Its A New Front Line & some receivers to throw to. I think the Vikings are going to suprise a few people this year.

I see the Vikes having a 7-9 season maybe a 500. season I say this because they could have been it last year. The First four games last season should have been Won What should have Never happen blowing up to a 20 point lead, If that didnt happen the Vikies would have been 7-9 last year maybe a 500. team. meaning this year Anything can happen. I do think there going to suprise alot of fans & experts this year.

I see the Vikes having a 7-9 season maybe a 500. season I say this because they could have been it last year. The First four games last season should have been Won What should have Never happen blowing up to a 20 point lead, If that didnt happen the Vikies would have been 7-9 last year maybe a 500. team. meaning this year Anything can happen. I do think there going to suprise alot of fans & experts this year.

Trent was pretty hard on Ponder. I think someone needs to come out with more Facts on Why Ponder had a bad Rookie year.Ponder's poor overall metric showing in 2011 -- 6.3 yards per attempt (YPA), ranked 30th in the league -- was largely due to the lack of a quality downfield passing attack, as his 8.4 vertical YPA (VYPA) ranked 33rd and his 7.1 stretch vertical YPA (SVYPA, which rates passing productivity on throws 20 or more yards from the line of scrimmage) ranked dead last.(Note: All YPA totals are inclusive of penalty plays such as pass interference, defensive holding, etc.)

Some of the fault for the low vertical metric totals certainly has to be placed on Ponder being a rookie adjusting to the NFL, but a lot of it also has to fall on the fact that the Vikings' primary downfield target last year was Devin Aromashodu. Minnesota passers targeted him for 56 vertical passes last year (23rd most in the league) and Aromashodu rewarded them with a 7.2 VYPA that ranked next to last among wideouts with at least 50 vertical targets.

<quoted text>Trent was pretty hard on Ponder. I think someone needs to come out with more Facts on Why Ponder had a bad Rookie year.Ponder's poor overall metric showing in 2011 -- 6.3 yards per attempt (YPA), ranked 30th in the league -- was largely due to the lack of a quality downfield passing attack, as his 8.4 vertical YPA (VYPA) ranked 33rd and his 7.1 stretch vertical YPA (SVYPA, which rates passing productivity on throws 20 or more yards from the line of scrimmage) ranked dead last.(Note: All YPA totals are inclusive of penalty plays such as pass interference, defensive holding, etc.)Some of the fault for the low vertical metric totals certainly has to be placed on Ponder being a rookie adjusting to the NFL, but a lot of it also has to fall on the fact that the Vikings' primary downfield target last year was Devin Aromashodu. Minnesota passers targeted him for 56 vertical passes last year (23rd most in the league) and Aromashodu rewarded them with a 7.2 VYPA that ranked next to last among wideouts with at least 50 vertical targets.

Rarely does a rookie receiver make a splash in the NFL so the receiving core of last year is the same as 2012, without AP so I don't see much improvement. People don't like my honesty but I say what I see.

Sit and learn is better.Bud had it right,Yary sat in year 1,Page got in around game 3 because of injury and never left but he was special.Bud did let some rookies start in later part of his career,started seeing more ROY's then.Rodgers is better for sitting,takes pressure off.In today's NFL,money and contract dominate why they start early.Didn't have free agency back then and you could afford to let them sit.Today,if they sit and learn,your paying for that.And if they turn out good,they may leave as UFA in 4/5 years.But QB in particular needs to sit.I said last summer,I was not in favor of starting Ponder becauseA)rookieB) no OTA'sBagging on Ponder is useless because nobody expects the Vikings are rebuilt,need at least 1 more draft,plus if they decide Ponder is not the answer,they'll have a few good choices next draft.If Minn.plays their cards right,they should have a young,great,dominating team right around the time that new stadium is built.

I'll add the "the Great Harry Bud Grant"did let rookies mop up in obvious wins/losses where they gained real time experience.But sitting and learning the system,while feeling no pressure helps,plus you get to see how your mentor handles things,while observing the enemy up close.then when your ready,it's yours to lose.

I think the New stadium will be done in 2016 So let hope the Vikings team dont take that long to start winning again. I dont agree Trent I think the Vikings Receiver are 100% better then last season There is way more speedon the offense then last year adding Childs & Wright & Simpson. & better hands less droped balls Also the Vikings just signed First round draft pick Smith With him & Robinson in the secondary there is a big improvement.

Thats true Avant but look who said it. Where is he getting it from? because At the NFL Combine in March, Ponder was the consensus top quarterback who participated, showcasing his trademark accuracy and timing

A LITTLE FACTS EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW.>>The NFC North is probably the best division in football from top to bottom, when you look at teams like the Packers, Lions, and Bears who are all legitimate Super Bowl contenders. The Minnesota Vikings may not be in that discussion quite yet, but they have an improved team, and if they are healthy, they could be a lot better than most people think.

Many underestimate the value of a good left tackle in the NFL, and the Vikings upgrading from Charlie Johnson to Matt Kalil is a significant move for the team, and they have added some intriguing pieces to their offensive weaponry.

In addition to getting back superstar running back Adrian Peterson (the freak who is months ahead of torn knee rehab schedule) the Vikings also signed former Bengals receiver Jerome Simpson, tight end John Carlson, and they drafted Greg Childs and Jarius Wright, two playmakers at the receiver position from Arkansas. They also have yet to unleash last yearís seventh round pick and athletic freak Stephen Burton out of West Texas A&M, who last year ran a 4.38 at 6í2&#8243; 221 pounds. A great 40 time does not equal to being a great football player, but Burton had over 1,000 yards receiving in his final college season and could be ready for the big time.

Of course, none of this will matter if Christian Ponder does not develop as expected. He looked pretty inconsistent in limited duty last year, but the fact of the matter is I saw Ponder make some incredible plays for the Vikings, and he could certainly emerge this year as one of the top 20 quarterbacks in the league if he isnít already.

Ponder has a strong, accurate arm and good athletic ability to make plays outside the pocket with his legs. If he develops like I think he can, the Vikings could be a much stronger team in 2012 than a lot of people think. We tend to forget that in last yearís pretty horrible season, the Vikings were marred with injuries, quarterback controversies, and early-season late game collapses. In fact, the Vikings lost nine-NINE-games last year by seven points or fewer, many of those against playoff teams like Green Bay, Detroit, and Denver.

What the Vikings really need is to get a full season of chemistry between Ponder, Peterson, and the passing and running game. If those two can gel together, this could be a dangerous team capable of knocking good teams off at inopportune times.

I'm glad Ponder got his feet wet last year. I saw glimpses of decency if he can stay healthy and is accurate lets see if he can prove Dilfer wrong.You have to admit it is rare for an retired QB to criticize a young QB that harshly.

Dilfer is a career 55% passer with a losing record and more INTs than TDs. He only had one season with more wins than loses. He sees the potential in Ponder who will have a better career than him. Dilfer is a bitter 2nd tier QB who isn't a good analyst. Not worth listening to.

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